Alternative Media

Required course materials such as textbooks, course packets, and readings can be prepared in the following accessible formats:

Scanned into Kurzweil format

Scanned as a PDF

Scanned into text files for use with a screen reader or magnifier

As Braille

Students can meet with an Adaptive Technology staff member to determine which format best suits their needs.

Requesting and Accessing Alternative Media

Request to utilize this accommodation prior to the start of the semester through STARS.

Meet with an Adaptive Technology staff member for your initial alternative media training. During this training you will be provided with a username and password to access Kurzweil and Firefly.

Sign the AT Contract in STARS.

Check the status of available textbooks through the STARS website, Alternative Format tab.

Purchase all textbooks in order to show proof of purchase. A copy of your original receipt can be submitted electronically to access@uakron.edu as proof of purchase. Access to alternative media will not be provided until you have shown proof of purchase and signed the AT contract.

Provide textbooks for the process of conversion if the books are not available through the Office of Accessibility resources. During this process, the binding will be cut off, and the books will be scanned and converted. A spiral or tape binding will replace the original binding before it is returned to the student. Students can sell books back to the University Bookstore with spiral or tape binding.

If you would like course handout materials to be prepared in an accessible format, please contact the Office of Accessibility to arrange the scanning of handout materials. We recommend a three day notice for handout requests.